New Britain Man Charged With Kidnapping, Rape

NEW BRITAIN — A 28-year-old man is facing charges for allegedly kidnapping and raping a woman in December 2012, police said.

Fernando Cruz, of Malikowski Circle in New Britain, was arrested on Monday after DNA evidence was used to positively identify him as the suspect, police said.

Cruz also matches the physical description given by the victim, according to police.

The victim, a 25-year-old woman, told police she was walking near the intersection of Washington and Lafayette streets when she was approached by a man driving a van. The man produced a knife and threatened to stab her if she refused to get into the van, police said.

The victim got into the van and the suspect drove to a second location where he sexually assaulted her, police said.

Cruz was charged with first-degree kidnapping, first-degree sexual assault and second-degree threatening, police said. He was held with bail set at $500,000.